Disk water-meter



(N0 Mode l.)

H. FpWHITTIBR DISK WATER METER.

' Pa.tented July 11,

five/712%? Fail/wen jzrger Nrt TATES DISK WATER-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,237, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed June 22, 1892. Serial No. 437,559. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT F. WHITTIER, of Lawrence, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Water-Meters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to water meters of the class known as disk meters, a type of which is shown in United States Patent No. 427,485.

The principle of operation of meters of this class is fully disclosed in the patent referred to and inasmuch as this invention relates solely to the speed-reducing mechanism by which the movement of the disk is transmitted to the indicating mechanism, I have herein shown and shall describe only so much of the mechanism of the meter as is necessary to a full and clear understanding of this invention.

The object of this invention is to improve and simplify the speed-reducing mechanism of the meter and to this end the speed is reduced by the connection between the disk and the operating spindle for the indicating mechanism, said connection consisting of two positively engaging members one of which is fast on the spindle, and the other of which moves with the disk.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a water meter embodying this invention,a portion of the casing of the meter being broken away to display the speed-reducing mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the disk; Fig. 3, a detail showing one form of connection between the disk and spindle; Figs. 4 and 5, modifications to be described; Figs. 6 and 7, horizontal and cross sections respectively, of the guide ring 1;, and Figs. 8 and 9 are modifications to be referred to.

Referring to the drawings, the disk 23 having the circular hub h and restrained from rotation by the partition 62, is fitted to oscillate in the usual disk chamber and is acted upon by the water as the latter passes through the chamber and given an oscillating movement about the center of its circular hub in a manner well known and therefore needing no detailed description herein, the axis of the disk by such oscillating movement describing is made hollow to receive about the center ofoscillation the circular rack n arranged with its axis coinciding with the axis of the disk 23 and with its pitch plane passing through the center of oscillation of the disk. The teeth of this rack n mesh successively with the teeth on the pinion 0 fast on one end of the verticalspindle 0' journaled infixed bearings and extending upwardly through the mouth h of the hub, said spindle at its upper end being geared to and operating in usual manner the several indicating pointers which co-operate to indicate the qu antity'of water which passes through the meter. As the oscillating movement of the disk 23 causes its axis a, b, to describe the surface of a cone,the apex of which coincides with the center of the hub h which is the center of oscillation, the axis of the cone being coincident with the axis of the spindle 0, the teeth on the circular rack *rtwill during such movement successively rise to the pitch plane of the pinion 0 and thereby engage in succession the teeth on the said pinion. The number of teeth-on the rackn is either greater or less than the number of teeth on the pinion o, and as the disk 23 and its rack are restrained from rotation, it follows that the successive intermeshing of the teeth on the rack and pinion,the one being restrained from rotation,will by reason of the difference in the number of teeth, cause a slow rotation of the other. For example, if the number of teeth on the rack n be twenty-five and the number of teeth on the pinion o be one more, the said pinion will be rotated a distance equal to one tooth by each oscillation of the disk. The rack to and pinion 0 thus constitute the two members of a speed reducing connection between the disk and the spindle, one of which members is fast-on the spindle and the other of which moves with the disk, the said connection thus serving not only as an actuating connection by which the spindle is rotated by the disk but also as a speed reducing connection, dispensing with the usual reducing mechanism interposed between the disk and the spindle which actuates the indicating pointers.

' guide plate having an opening R at a definite distance from the axis of the disk through which in the preseutinstance the spindle o is extended. The ring or plate 2) constitutes an eccentric guide having a fixed center of retation, viz:the axis of the spindle 0 about which the eccentric is revolved by the Wabbling of the disk. The opening '0' in the plate is countersunk from both sides as shown in Fig. 7 to allow the plate to assume its clifferent inclined positions, the said plate compelling the axis of the disk to describe the surface of a cone about the spindle 0 as an axis, and bysuch motion make a complete oscillation.

This invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment herein shown as the invention may be embodied in other forms of mechanisms without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, referring to Fig. 4, instead of the rack on the hub 71, the member which moves with the hub consists of a plate provided with two projections or teeth t, If, provided with oppositely inclined cam faces i As the tooth tduring the oscillating movement of the disk reaches the plane of the pinion 0, its cam face will act upon a tooth of the pinion and move the latter a certain distance to the left, the pinion to be moved a farther distance in the same direction by the inclined face of the tooth t as the latter during the oscillating movement of the disk reaches the plane of the pinion. Thus the oscillating disk communicates at each oscillation a rotation of the pinion equal to the combined throw of the two inclined faces of the teeth 15, t.

Fig. 5, represents the spindle o as arranged at one side of the circular hub of the disk, its pinion being engaged at each oscillation of the disk by the pinp projecting therefrom, said pin moving the pinion one tooth at each oscillation. If desired the spindle in Fig. 1, may have in place of the pinion 0, a single laterally extended arm or tooth r, Fig. 8, which will be engaged by the inclined faces of the teeth of the rack r, as the latter rise in succession to the plane of the arm, each oscillation of the disk acting to rotate the spindle a distance equal to the throw of one toot-h of the rack.

Fig. 9 represents a spur pinion son the spindle 0, which meshes with an internal toothed rack or gear .9 on the disk, the operation being on the same principle as that in Fig. 1. If desired, the engaging members of the speed reducing mechanism may consist of two bevel gears arranged like the crown gears Fig. 1.

1 claim- 1. In a water meter of the class described, an oscillating disk the axis of which at each oscillation is caused to describe the surface of a cone, and a fixed non-vibrating rotatable spindle, combined with a direct speed reducing mechanism between the disk and spindle, the said mechanism consisting of an oscillating member on and oscillating with the disk, and a co-operating non-oscillating member on and rotatable with the spindle, whereby the oscillations of the disk as described transmit a rotary motion to the spindle, substantially as described.

2. In a water meter of the class described, a rotatable spindle and an oscillating disk the axis of which at each oscillation is caused to describe the surface of a cone, combined with a circular rack on and arranged about the center of oscillation of the disk, and a pinion on the spindle in mesh with the said rack, the teeth on the rack successively rising to the plane of and to engage the said pinion on the spindle, substantially as described.

3. In a water meter of the class described, the combination with an oscillating disk, the axis of which at each oscillation is caused to describe the surface of a cone, a fixed rotatable spindle, and an engaging connection between the disk and spindle, of an eccentric guide loosely running in said disk and having a fixed center of rotation about the axis of said spindle whereby the disk is compelled always to make a complete oscillation, substantially as described.

4. In a Water meter of the class described, the combination with an oscillating disk, the axis of which at each oscillation is caused to describe the surface of a cone, a fixed rotatable spindle, and an engaging connection between the disk and spindle, of a guide ring loosely carried by the hub of the disk and having an eccentrically arranged opening axis of the latter serving as the axis of rotation of the ring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT F. WIIITTIER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES U. BELL, HENRY F. HOPKINS.

.through which the spindle is extended, the 

